Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-01-22

Preventing Defeat At Petersburg, and
COnquering Indians With His Fists.

II
Conquering Indians With His Fists.
| TRIBUTES OF PRAISE FROM A BROTHER OFFICER
| TURNING DEFEAT INTO NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
BLooDrBIRsTY INDIANS INTO DEVOTED FRIENDS
INSTANCES OF CoURAGER.
'sDidn't you see Randall when he was here on
| the Humphreys court martial?- asked one army
| officer OF another day or so ago, in a surprised
| tone
! '.You know Randall, don't you" continued the
] speaker turning to a STAR reporter. "NO7 well
| you ought to. He would be a gold mine for a
newspaper man If he could be induced to talk OF
! his many experiences Who is he? Only Capt.
G. NJ. Randall OF the 2.,d infantry. but he ought
| to be brfgadier general His bravery and gallant
services In any army in Europe would have
| entitled him to have his coat literally covered
with medals and decorations Randall has few
equals" Here the second officer broke In to add
! his tribute TO the gallantry and worth OF the
soldier referred toin equally complimentary terms.
| BEFORE PETERSBURG.
81 well remember the services he rendered be
fore Petersburg, continued the first speaker '.He
saved the Union forces from q very disastrous
| defeat"
GLOW was it," asked The STAR man, beginning
to grow interested at the prospect OF good story.
Randail was In command OF a New York regi-
ment OF heavy artillery at that SIEGE said the son
OF Mars. settling back In comfortable chair, with
toned right between Forts Hell and Damnation.
IL was the very worst place In the line, and the
troops in that locality were subjected TO con-
tinuous and deadly fire. fellow couldn't stick
his head above the breastworks without great
danger OF being dropped One night when every
thing was Comparatively quiet terrific explosion
Rebs had exploded a mine under us, giving us q
taste OF the same medicine we had administered
was followed by p vigorous vigorous attack Of the
enemy, with the most demoralizing effect.
h god Of n portion our WERE Tas
TO death and fled like SO many sheep. To
tell the truth, the whites were not far behind
tent when the explosion occurred rushed out in
his nlght-Sh1rt, only to see his men and all the
other troops driven in every direction by the ad-
vancing enemy. He at once began endeavOr1ng to
bring order out OF chaos. His loud and command
Ing voice soon attracted attention, and his men,
VINO knew him and respected him so Wel at once
focked about him. In little while he had col
lected small but determined force Of men ready
TO follow him anywhere. He swung his forces
around with wonderful rapidity, and directed a
fierce and desperate attack on the flank and rear
OF the enemy, completely surprising and routing
them The victory that they had within their
grasp was snatched from them by the courage and
presence OF mind OF single man. If it had not
been for G. Nj. Randall Petersburg would not have
been taken, and doubt II Gen. Grant would ever
have been President That's pretty broad state
ment, but believe it from the bottom OF my soul
He had lots OF experiences during the war that, II
written without the slightest eXaggeratiOn, would
sound like fiction OF the most extreme kind.
AMONG THE INDIANS.
'He made as great reputation as an Indian
fighter after the war as rebel fighter during the
war. To be sure, his achievements ON the frontier
over the world, but army people knew what he
could do and know what he did do The Indians
knew him too, many OF them to their sorrow. He
was big, strong, brave and impulSive, and when
they ran against him in a campaign or attempted
an outbreak when he was around there was trou-
BILE. am free to say that when excited he would
use strong language, habit which gave him the
name among Indians OF Nan-Tan-G-d-D-n. In
1872 and 10 he was In command Of Fort Apache,
in Arizona, and had about three thousand Indians
under him.
QURLLING AN OUTBREAK.
He held pretty tight rein over them and some
OF the bucks began to chafe and grow restless
under his strict discipline He kept some trusty
Indian scouts continually circulating among them
OF these scouts came to Randall and said NAN
Tan-G-d-D-n-dont go among the Indians to in
hunting grounds
whats up?" demanded Randall
The scout then explained that they had dis
covered q plot among the Indians to put him out
OF the way that very day. When he should make
an inspection as usual, one Indian would be found
without his tag of identity either around his neck
or around his wrist. He would endeavor to ex-
plain its absence and occupy his attention while
another red-skin would present his gun to show
that he still Kept his arms. That was to be the
signal for
RANDAILs BRATH.
As soon as he was to look at the gun it would be
discharged full In his face. Now II had been In
hdRQallS Diace Cnlnk WOuaQ nave 8ppf1e0 LOT
an immediate leave OF absence, with permission to
go beyond the sea But he simply grOwled out an
oath, followed by 'rll hx EN-. The routine OF the
day was carried out as usual, and Randall went
down among the Indians, apparently as IL moth
ing unusual was expected to occur. A little squad
OF Of, scouts or policemen, however. quietly passed
handcuffsand leg irons under their coats, wrapped
In cloth TO keep them from rafting. Randall kept
his tag, according to program. Then he was on
the lookout for the red devil with the gun. The
latter promptly came forward. Randall pretended
not TO see him, but as the Indian was about TO
raise his shooting iron the big fellow like light
ming, struck him a terrific
BLOW WITH HIS FIST,
full In the face and sent him rolling over and over
on the ground He was mighty handy with those
fists OF his, and imagine is still He was big and
strong, and could strike a blow that would fell an
OK, the saying Is It was that kind OF blow
that the murierous Apache received, and he
carried the marks OF it for many day. Before he
was allowed to get up he was securely irOned.
What sight he was when his brother Indians got
good hook at himi His face looked all caved in
On one side, and all bulged out the other. That
single blow ended the conspiracy. The other
Indians who were in it were too dumbfOunded to
rounded Randall strobe back to his quarters
threatening everlasting destruction TO any id
redSkin' that should cross his path. The Indian
labor for several weeks. All the spirit was worked
and starved out OF him, for Randall intended
making an example OF him. When he finally re-
and broken up that you could almost hear his
bones shake and his back teeth rattle.
NO MORE CoNsPIRACIEs.
'He never cared to participate In any more con-
spiracies; in fact, there were no more. Randalls
cool and courageous action on that occasion had
wonderful results You know the Indians almost
worship bravery. They recognized it more than
ever in Randall, and during his whole subsequent
stay at the fort the Indians dOcfe and tract
able. He ruled them with rOd OF iron. but was
always just, impartial and kind to them when
they behaved The fear which he had inspired by
courage was gradually changed into devotion to
him. They would do anything for him.
A TRIBUTE OF FRIENDSHIP.
"When he was nnalty ordered away a delega-
t1on OF Indians waited upon him and the spokes-
man inquired, in his broken English, II Nan-Tan-
G-d-D-n had been ordered TO Washington.
b. Washington he meant any place In the east
Washington included 1t all to the Indians. He
style back there, and il 1t wasn't necessary to
spend good deal OF money to keep pace with the
boys. Upon being answered In the affirmative he
went on TO say that the Indians at the fort were
anxious that 'Nan-Tan-G-d-D-n' should appear
the equal OF the best OF them. and spend plenty OF
money and have as good time as possible. They
had saved some money, he said, from the sale of
their corn To the QuartermaSter and begged him
10 accept 1t rrom Them to spend 1t freely and have
grand Time The amount offered was $40. Al
though small sum, it was tribute that meant a
great deal TO Randall, for 1t showed how he had
changed the Indians under him from a band Of
blOodthirsty savages, eager to take his life, to
small earnings with him, that he might have the
good time they thought him entitled TO-"
"Well, can't be talking here all day." said the
speaker, looking at his watch. 81 must be going.